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Sensor-based Nitrogen Application – Converting Research to Practicality

This presentation by Brent Rendel from Rendel Farms delves into practical applications of nitrogen management using sensor technology. It highlights various approaches implemented over multiple crop years, from the use of GreenSeeker technology to nitrogen ramps, in optimizing yields for wheat and corn. Key lessons learned emphasize adjusting technology to fit farm operations rather than altering the farm to accommodate new systems. The insights shared aim to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) amidst growing agricultural demands and environmental challenges.

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Sensor-based Nitrogen Application – Converting Research to Practicality

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  1. Sensor-based Nitrogen Application – Converting Research to Practicality Brent Rendel Rendel Farms Miami, Oklahoma

  2. If it was good enough for my dad…

  3. N Strip Approach

  4. N Ramp Approach

  5. On-the-go Zone Approach

  6. My Approach

  7. 2005 Crop Year Wheat: • OSU placed 3-level nitrogen strips in 1 wheat field • ZEROadditional nitrogen called for by GreenSeeker • All other fields received 36 # N/ac as topdress • Farm avg: 33.0 bu/ac vsGreenSeekeravg: 33.9 bu/ac Corn: • OSU placed Corn nitrogen test in one field using various nitrogen levels as part of statewide research • Highest profit/acre obtained was on check, closely followed by GreenSeeker

  8. Precision Nitrogen ApplicatorMark I

  9. 2006 Crop Year Wheat: • Placed 3-level N strips in all wheat fields • Topdressed at GreenSeeker rate plus 10 lb/ac of N • Farm avg yield: 24.4 bu/ac (consistent with county yields for the year) Corn: • OSU placed Corn nitrogen test in one field using various nitrogen levels as part of statewide research • Highest profit/acre obtained was on check, closely followed by GreenSeeker

  10. Precision Nitrogen Applicator Mark II

  11. 2007 Crop Year Wheat: • OSU placed N Ramps on 7 fields • I placed single-rate High N strips on all fields • Topdress well below traditional levels (0-30#/ac) • Late spring freeze destroyed 90% of the crop

  12. Precision Nitrogen ApplicatorMark III

  13. 2007 Crop Year Corn: • 20 N Ramps in 9 fields • Late Spring freeze destroyed or severely damaged earliest planted fields • Some ramps adversely affected by “wet holes” • Average GS side dress rate – 35 # N/ac • Placed full-rate (75# n/ac side dress) check in 1 field – out-yielded GS check (25# N/ac side dress) by 21.2 bu/ac

  14. 2008 Crop Year Wheat: • Placed N ramps in all fields • Topdressed at GreenSeeker rate and placed full-rate (75 #N/ac) topdress strips in 3 fields • Checks confirmed highest profit with GS. Corn: • Placed N ramps in all fields • Extended length of high N section of ramp • Top dressed by GS strips and farmer “eye” estimates • No checks

  15. 2009 Crop Year Wheat: • Placed N ramps in all fields • Winter conditions dictated topdressing early (GDD<70) • Used past experience, visual ramp estimates and GS • Placed High N checks in 2 fields • No added profit on High N checks Corn: • Placed Single-rate High N strips in 4 of 14 fields • Used past experience and strips to determine rates • Corn grew too tall to sidedress in some areas

  16. Ramp Sensing Upgrade

  17. 2010 Crop Year Wheat: • Wet fall prevented planting until November 30th • Limited acres and growth = zero top dress Corn: • Switched to bedded corn system • No ramps or strips placed this year (weather, schedule) • Targeted fields for 50# N/ac side dress at V6-V8 • Weather prevented sidedress on 70% of acres (tasseled before N could be placed) • No visual N stress in most fields

  18. Lessons Learned • Start slow but be persistent • Don’t adjust your farm to the technology…adjust the technology to your farm • Question everything and believe yourresults • NUE is an approach…not a system! • Wheat is a “No-brainer” • Corn is still a work in progress • A 50% solution is better than a 30% solution • Communication • Communication • Communication

  19. Agriculture “Beta Testers”

  20. Since I began speaking about 20 minutes ago... • The world has 2900 more mouths to feed(U.S. Census Bureau) • Nearly a quarter-section of productive U.S. farmland has been converted to urban use (2002 / 2007 U.S. Census of Agriculture) • Runoff from applied nitrogen fertilizer sources have sent the equivalent of 2 semi truck loads of urea fertilizer out the mouth of the Mississippi River (U.S. EPA Draft Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan 2008)

  21. Contact Brent Rendel okiefarmer@yahoo.com 918-533-4081 (cell)

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